Nook on the street, Oct. 17, 2017

Wildfires began in Northern California on Sunday, Oct. 8, and the latest reports from this region have indicated at least 32 people are dead as a result. This week we asked students “What do you think could be done to offer support to people affected by these fires in this area?”

“I think it’s a really unfortunate situation and we can do things like send supplies to families who have been displaced, little care packs. But another thing that you could do is also write a petition to California to start their salination plants which would supply more water and make it more difficult for fires to start, make it better to combat them…So pre-emptive and damage control. Help the people in need and then do something to keep it from happening again.”

Elijah McGinnity, freshman, computer science

“I have family and friends down in California and I know it’s nice to check up on them and make sure that they have all of the resources that they need. Some good things around are food drives or clothing for people that maybe had to abandon their houses: just basic human needs.”

Alanna Kvernik, sophomore, secondary education

“Water is always a plus especially at that time, so any way to encourage water drives and food drives. Sheltering is also an issue, so any way that people can support their local shelters; even people in that area that might have family friends that they can open up homes, that’s always a plus, But I don’t think anything can probably beat the power of prayer. Not just for people who have had family members die, but also for the people who might have a fire coming to their area.”

Andrew Hedman, junior, secondary education and history

“Well to be honest, I would rather show support for the inmates of the California prison system who are being made to work as firefighters without pay in southern California and who are legally barred from becoming firefighters after they leave prison. It’s pretty much a tacit admission from the state of California that they are using prisons as a labor pool for the most dangerous and horrific jobs that the United States has.”

Riley Hickman, sophomore, political science

“I personally don’t know too much about anything regarding the fire and I don’t think I have enough knowledge about it to really help.”

Ricky Hines, sophomore, electrical engineering

“Well, I think that they should probably look into providing support for maybe the families or the people involved. I used to help provide support for people affected by fires and if they lose somebody important in the fire you can’t really replace that, but it is helpful to know that somebody is looking to support you.”